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Reviews

The show was free and unannounced
I remember, it was very cold.
They were supposed to play the night before, but their truck could not make it on time. Everyone was very upset
I’m 65 now, and can’t stand rap

A freebie show, unannounced; a make-up gig just for people of Lille. On the Belgian border, it's the closest they played to Brussels, but since the promoter wouldn't refund people for the earlier gig, it went unpromoted. It wasn't the band's fault, but they still set up a simple stage, quietly, in a parking lot in the city center and played for free. Much of E72 has great 1st sets and then getting sloppier, but this one takes a long warm up. On the official release, One More Saturday Night is the final song, and not an encore - which is possible, since they hadn't played an encore in Amsterdam. However, there are three myths in Dead lore associated with the show:
1st myth. "They played during a fair on a fairground". They set up on the Champs de Mars (Mars Park is a traditional French name for the local military marching ground, which became public parks under Napoleon - in this case a paved lot), at Bois de Boulogne, which is the park at Citadelle de Lille. It's an open lot where carnivals/fun fairs often set up, hence the confusion.
2nd myth. "Angry, free-concert-demanding hippie-kids in Paris were rebuffed by the crew. One retaliated against the band by pouring sugar in the equipment trucks". Sugar-in-the-gas is an urban myth (Mythbusters Ep15 – Scuba Diver and Car Capers). It made a good band legend, but the band's truck just simply broke down and they missed the May 6 gig. The schedule opening was fortuitous because, with 4 days until Amsterdam, they were able to run back across the Channel and up to the Bickershaw Festival (which had developed a big buzz) for the second of 3 trips to England.
3rd myth. "Big River is missing from most sources". The song used to erroneously show up on set lists for Lille but in fact it wasn't worked up yet. It had been played just once, with Jer singing. Though it was soundchecked (casually, with Jer still singing) at the following gig in Luxembourg, it didn't enter show rotation until September.

First Set. The playing is typical for E72 through Beat it on Down the Line-8½. Mr. Charlie is slower than most from the tour - maybe it's the impending rain. Though the playing has been above average, it then becomes essentially perfect, with the back half of the set just stellar - except for the usual Donnaskreech™ in Playing.

Second Set. An ace Truckin' becomes an equally notable The Other One. Check out Bobby @2>4 minutes, under Jer. He quickly goes wayyy out and after the first verse it just as quickly goes right back to the same place. This was happening at the end of the tour more and more - like they had gotten used to how far they could take the Euro listeners. In his bio Billy says, "Europe had a lot of moments that we were able to stretch to infinity. That tour was really sponsored by The Other One". This is a perfect example - serious acid jazz freakout, if you like the way out. He's Gone is as perfect as Amsterdam; a great example of the first arrangement. A Teddy Bear's Picnic tunes for an average Hurts Me Too and Donna forgoes a great Sugar Mag. Not Fade Away has Pig organ. Though Bobby is out of tune, it's still a great Goin' Down the Road Feeling Bad - even Donnaskreech™ can't mar it with Jer this inspired. Though Bobby can sure try to do so back into Not Fade. Not fade dawahhhchch! One More Saturday Night is an over-and-done-with.

1st Set: A-2nd Set: B
Overall = 4½ Stars

Highlights:
First Set from China Cat Sunflower through Mexicali - near perfection
Truckin' - as good as Düsseldorf and 5/24.
The Other One - listen to Bobby's playing
He's Gone - like Amsterdam, great example of the first arrangement
Sugar Magnolia - sans Donna, Bobby on a dime
Goin' Down the Road Feeling Bad - one of the best E72s

SOURCES: The SBD sources that circulate, such as ladner.3457, seem to all be pitched 1% slow.

"...Lille looked like an impressionist painting, cows in the distance, poplar trees in rows, with a little LSD, it wasn't hard to see why Monet and company liked the light in their native country. For Phil especially, it was one of the truly spectacular experiences of a lifetime, as though for an hour or two he lived inside a Seurat or a Cezanne."
Dennis McNally

Back in France for a make up date, the band pulls off another stellar performance. Interrupted by rain, it's not quite as superlative as some of the preceeding shows, however the second set is dynamite.

The set opening performance of Truckin' is excellent, featuring some some great licks by Jerry and slashing leads from Weir. Towards the end of the instrumental break you can hear a brief, but unmistakable shot at a Nobody's Jam.

The highlight of the free concert is an excellent 28+ minute, sometimes spacey performance of The Other One. The jamming on this one is not nearly as cohesive as the performance in Paris ten days earlier. Still there is some great playing; Weir in particular contributes his trademark slashing leads throughout, and Pigpen adds some eerie organ fills that add to the mood. Following the intense meltdown segment, at about 20:40, there is a compelling movement that contains some brief hints of a Spanish Jam. This is followed by an interesting jam with Billy hammering out a drumbeat and contains some great guitar work from Bobby who comes through the right channel crystal clear.

The show ending NFA> GDTRFB, though cut, is terrific as well. Sound quality on the incomplete Ladner transfer is fine, but the partial Miller file is excellent, possibly sourced from the Taper's Section. In spite of the missing portion of the second set, this one is a little gem. (95 pts)

good show, berth is awesome, playin is good a nd whatnot, alot of the show is played out of tune though. id give it a 4 for everything else, maybe a 3 because of the out of tuneness- but ill just give it a 4 becuase there are some awesome versions and hey, its europe, im a sucker for that stuff

edit- holy shit the truckin>drums>the other one>hes gone- definitely worth the download. just for the other one>hes gone... wow. ive never heard anything like that before. its a perfect segue and the playing is great

apparently there is a snake hissing in this one. Perhaps, but it must be small 'cause I don't it very well.

As for the playing -- this is a good show and easily listenable. Nice Bertha to start and a pretty good BTW to follow which is not one of my favorites, but still good.

China Rider is short but nice snd playing is very good. The Other One gets nicely stretched and well played.

Pigs tunes are good as well.

Not a 5 but easily a 4.

Reviewer:jfk62
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September 8, 2005 Subject:
The Dead in France? Sounds good to me.

I usually stick to the Winterland shows (or similar). Imagine my surprise hearing this show from France. The sound is not spectacular, but very good. There is some hiss, but you only notice during the quieter parts - I listened using headphones. The band plays a standard set list for the period, but they play quite well considering they are very far from the hometown crowd - it doesn't seem to matter where the Dead play - they would have been rockin' out if they played on the moon I guess. Worth a listen, if not a download.

Somehow, I had missed this show, and so has most everyone else, if number of reviews(1) is any indication. It's easy to get jaded when it comes to some of the pristine SBDs from '72, but folks, give this one a try. Regarding the aforementioned hiss, I'm only streaming through the computer speakers, and my ears are plugged from allergies, but it doesn't seem too bad. The band sounds full of energy, and I haven't heard a clinker yet, unless you count the false start to BIODTL. Good for a laugh. Mr. Charlie is slower, a bit more bluesy, nice. China Cat > Rider is one of those "note perfect" affairs I never get tired of. Can't listen any more. Need to download and burn it so I really hear this thing. I suggest you do the same. 5 for perf., 4 fer sound, I guess.
P.S. Advisory note: PITB is, of course RBD!